A Timeline of Visual Art’s Opening Exhibition

Written by Mati Held, Emily Guo, & Violeta Vilchis

The Visual Arts interactive exhibition opened directly after Collage during Family Weekend. It serves as an opportunity for senior VA students to showcase their work. Much like last year's concourse alcove exhibition, this exhibition was designed in collaboration with museum curators Elaine Gurian and Jim Volkert, who helped guide students and aided them in bringing their artistic vision to life. 

The interactive exhibition is meant to prompt seniors to understand their work through the eyes of the audience. One notable feature of this exhibition is its interactability. By creating a space where the audience can interact, it includes them and allows them to experience the thesis projects close up. This emphasis on interaction encourages students to reflect more deeply on how their work is perceived, engaged with, and even altered by viewers. 

Timeline of the Week Leading Up to the Exhibition:

The week-long installation process started with each senior student having a 20-minute meeting with Elaine and Jim. These meetings focused on the student’s working thesis and ideation surrounding interactive elements. The students were expected to show 2-3 of their most recent/relevant works that they plan to add interactive elements to, based on that work. As this was happening, potential materials were ordered and Jim prepared a floor plan. Students were then expected to refine their ideas and prepare their own materials for the week.

Monday

Students were given the floor plans and began organizing where their already made work would be placed in the show. A graphic design contest was announced, where a design was voted on to represent the artists and their exhibition throughout the gallery, which would include the students' intention statement. Students were assigned to write an intention and review it with Dean Anderson, Elaine's husband who is also an IAC alumnus and former member of Interlochen’s Board of Trustees. Students prepared the element of their artwork to adapt into interactive art, working within their assigned spaces.

Tuesday

Walls for the installation were set up early in the morning, and pedestals were brought to the students that needed them. The graphic design contest was held, and student Stella Signorelli was named as the winner by popular vote. Many students requested and sourced materials that are not commonly available in the Visual Arts building as they became relevant. Some collaboration amongst students started, but momentum picked up more into midweek. 

Wednesday

Students started installing their artwork: hanging pieces, painting walls, and incorporating interactive elements. Help was provided by underclassmen who volunteered to assist whoever needed extra hands. All students were required to meet with Jim, Elaine, and Dean to make sure their exhibition was moving along at a good pace. The student's intention statements were required to be turned in so they could be printed.

Thursday

Installation continued with more intensive support from the full VA department, with help from all the teachers and juniors during the day. The artists’ intention statements were hung and instruction labels were printed for the interactive pieces. The day was wrapped up by everyone cleaning the gallery. Many stayed after class to finish hanging their artwork or to support the students with more work to do.

Friday

Unlike other days, the VA students immediately started the day off working on their installations. A stress test was then held at 5 p.m., to ensure that everything ran smoothly and to identify if something was not working out. The stress test had VA freshmen and sophomores, as well as their visiting family members, take the last class of their day to visit the gallery and use it as they would as if the gallery were open. They were encouraged to talk to the artists and give feedback on what was and was not obvious to do when interacting with the art. Once the freshmen and sophomores left, the remaining students had a meeting discussing what they needed to make extras of, fix, or make signs for. The rest of the night was spent getting those things done.

Saturday - The Opening

Right after Collage, the Visual Arts senior interactive exhibit was opened to the public. There was live music, and drinks and snacks were served. Many people interacted with the exhibit, from students and their families, and even Interlochen President Trev Devey attended. The week of focused and collaborative work culminated in an outstanding event.